Political parties are essentially organizations designed for ideological advocacy and achieving control of the government through elections. While the American political sphere has been historically dominated by a two-party system, by some estimations, there have been over a thousand formally registered political parties and organizations in the country since independence, at state and national level. This is a very conservative estimate, as in some states, there exist no requirements to register political parties.

The first major national political party was the Federalist Party, followed by the Democratic-Republican Party (predecessor to the current Democratic Party), both of which dominated the early American political scene for about thirty years. The demise of the Federalist Party saw the Whig Party taking center stage for about two decades. The emergence of the Republican Party towards the middle of the 19th century established a two-century long duopoly with the Democratic Party that has lasted until today.

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America First Party

The party advocates nationalist policies, non-interventionist foreign policies, withdrawal from the United Nations and NATO, enhanced states’ right and a temporary ban on all immigration. It rejects any form of gun control, and espouses traditional values of faith and family.

The ultra-conservative party’s ideology is based on the tenets of Christianity. It seeks to frame national political debates, and thereafter, the governing of the nation, under the principles of Christianity and the words of the Bible.

The Citizens Party, which argues for the immediate reform of the national electoral system, advocates national infrastructure reinvestment, protectionist economic policies, a less expansive foreign policy and stricter enforcement of immigration laws. It also supports same sex marriages and marijuana decriminalization.

The Communist Party aims to protect and promote the rights of working class Americans, regardless of gender, creed or sexual orientation, against the oppression and exploitation of the capitalist system and the ultra-right. The party is also an advocate for sustainable environmental policies.

The Freedom Socialist Party is principally a socialist feminist party, although it also champions the causes of social and sexual minorities, the working class and immigrants. The party is an advocate of a socialist revolution.

The Green Party, which rejects any form of corporate sponsorship or funding, is committed to preserving democracy, the environment and social justice, through a policy of non-violence.

More on the Green Party

Independent American Party

The Independent American Party is a Christian right party, advocating social conservatism in the governing of the nation and states. The party strongly supports enhanced states’ rights and the Second Amendment. It is also strictly opposed to any form of federal taxation.

The center left party seeks to affect change through social and economic justice generated at grassroots level. It also, uniquely, suggests party members to be guided by its ten-point core values (justice, integrity, respect, transparency, collaboration, rationality, effectiveness, farsightedness, human rights and rule of law).

The centrist party leans to the right on fiscal issues and to the left on social ones. It seeks to build itself into a viable third party alternative, and rejects attempts to label its political ideology.

The party seeks to end oppression and discrimination against women, sexual and social minorities. It is also an advocate of indexing minimum wage to cost of living, a universal basic income system, free education, stronger union rights, and converting the national economy from a military to a peace-oriented one.

The party, true to its name, opposes the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages, citing it as “America’s #1 narcotic drug problem”. It also advocates the banning of abortions and gambling, and strongly supports the Second Amendment. The Prohibition Party calls for the disbandment of the Federal Reserve and the enactment of a federal balanced budget legislation.

The Reform Party aspires to create a federal government that is fiscally responsible, and with high ethical standards. It advocates a balanced approach to healthcare, energy and foreign policy, guided by the principles established in the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. The moderate party has no official stances on social issues as it believes that priority should be given to the economy and national security.

The Pirate Party’s platform is centered on intellectual property rights reform, especially on length of copyrights. It also advocates strict compliance to individual privacy, and is opposed to legislations that attempt to circumvent this right.

The Veterans Party of America describes itself as being neither left nor right, but a politically centrist organization. They eschew legislation concerning any and all social issues, including such volatile subjects as abortion and gay rights. Though they openly declare that their strength comes in part from US veterans and their friends and families, they are careful to emphasize that military service, past or present, is not a prerequisite for membership in the party.